FIRST SAILING: PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT

JULY 10,1999

Duyfken was towed from Fremantle Fishing boat harbour at 1000 hrs and
set the forecourse before leaving the harbour, then dropped the tow
just outside the harbour. The main course was set by 1025 when the ship
was clearing the Challenger Harbour groin.

Conditions were light 8 to 12 knots northeasterly breeze. The mizzen
was set next. With the mizzen, the courses and no bonnets the ship did
not steer well - the mizzen caused her to round up into the wind when
trying to steer a beam reach. With the fore topsail set, steering was
much improved and the ship averaged about 3 knots on a beam reach, starboard
tack.

The main topsail was set by 1135 and shortly after that the ship was
put into port tack by wearing round. The position reached (32O 01.70S, 115O 44.85) was about 4 nautical miles from the point
where the main course was set seventy-five minutes previously. In the
fifteen minutes between 1125 and 1140 very nearly 1 nautical mile was
covered giving an average of four knots. The ship had averaged 3 knots
under short canvas. Reaching back under almost full sail Duyfken made
4 knots at times and when the helm was put up to go clear of a container
ship the GPS and the log of chase vessel "Tabby Cat" both indicated
that Duyfken made 7 knots for a short space of time before turning back
to a beam reach.

Seven knots in the light conditions is a remarkably good speed. Shortly
before taking in sail and picking up the tow for return to Fishing Boat
Harbour, the master, Greg Tonnison, ordered helm down to see how Duyfken
would hove to with sails aback. She came up into the wind so quickly
that he concluded she would easily tack, and indeed she did sail round
onto starboard tack very easily. Flat water and light to moderate winds
are ideal conditions for tacking a ship. Duyfken tacked remarkably easily.

Sail setting and arrangement of the rigging will be improved to allow
the ship to sail closer to the wind. Based on the beam reach performance,
Duyfken will be able to sail to windward and not make excessive leeway.
The ship's speed was good. She responded to her helm and manoeuvred
without problems. Steering was sensitive to sail setting.